Extra-Curricular Programs

There is no shortage of fairs, awards, competitions – regional and national, collaborative efforts and projects for high schoolers. Almost every large corporation and branch of government as well as numerous non profit organizations sponsor or host an event where participating high school students can shine and also take important first steps onto a successful career in the field that interests them. As the late Steve Jobs told the graduates in his famous commencement speech at Stanford: “You’ve got to find what you love. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

On this page we have collected many (but by far not all) of these resources so that any interested student can discover more avenues that will help him to achieve great things.

Literature and Writing

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

Since 1923, The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers have been identifying teenagers with exceptional artistic and literary talent and bringing their remarkable work to a national audience. The Awards are an important opportunity for students to be recognized for their creative talents. Each year, the Alliance partners with more than 100 regional affiliates across the country to bring the program to local communities. Teens in grades 7 through 12 can apply in 28 categories of art and writing for the chance to earn scholarships and have their works exhibited or published.

Creative Communication

Creative Communication is intent on motivating young creative writers. The contest is held a few times a year in poetry and in essay composition. The winners receive $50 savings bond and the top entries are published in an anthology that will record the creative insights of today’s student writers. Top ten winners of the contest receive a free copy of the anthology. See website for more.

Stage of Life Writing Contest

StageofLife.com hosts a monthly writing contest for High School students. Students submit essays on real world issues and their life experiences. Visit Stages of Life website for more info.

Mathematics

Below you’ll find national math leagues and competitions as well as those in the NY region (which is where Sinai Academy is located). Information for other regions can be found here and here.

American Regions Mathematics League

The American Regions Mathematics League (ARML), is an annual high school mathematics team competition held simultaneously at four locations in the United States: the University of Iowa, Penn State, UNLV, and the newly added site at the University of Georgia. ARML problems cover a wide variety of mathematical topics including algebra, geometry, number theory, combinatorics, probability, and inequalities. While part of the competition is short-answer based, there is a cooperative team round, and a proof-based power question (also completed as a team). ARML problems are harder than most high school mathematics competitions.

NCIML

Nassau County Interscholastic Mathematics League has two separate divisions: UPPER (grades 11-12) and LOWER (grades 9-10). Three competitions in all: an individual event with grade specific questions, a traditional individual math team event with the same questions for everyone, and a cooperative team event, with talking permitted.

Moody’s Mega Math Challenge

Moody’s Mega Math Challenge (M3 Challenge) is an applied mathematics competition for high school students. Winners receive scholarships totaling $115,000 for continuing education. A partnership of The Moody’s Foundation and SIAM, the competition spotlights applied mathematics as a powerful problem-solving tool, a vital contributor to advances in an increasingly technical society, and a viable and exciting profession.

Mandelbrot Competition

The Mandelbrot Competition takes place in five rounds spaced throughout the school year. Each round consists of seven short-answer questions valued by difficulty at one, two, or three points. The contest is offered at the national level for more advanced students and the regional level for less experienced problem solvers.

Science

NYCSEF

NYCSEF is the city’s largest high school research competition, with over 1,000 students participating annually. The fair provides a supportive, academic venue for students to present their research, network with other NYC high school students and meet leading scientists and science professionals from around the metropolitan area.

Arts

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

Since 1923, The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers have been identifying teenagers with exceptional artistic and literary talent and bringing their remarkable work to a national audience. The Awards are an important opportunity for students to be recognized for their creative talents. Each year, the Alliance partners with more than 100 regional affiliates across the country to bring the program to local communities. Teens in grades 7 through 12 can apply in 28 categories of art and writing for the chance to earn scholarships and have their works exhibited or published.

Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest

Sponsored by Prudent Publishing Company and their online store – The Gallery Collection – the Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest asks participants to submit original artwork, photo, or design. (Words not necessary.) $10,000 scholarship prize is awarded to one selection.

Reel Math Challenge

Sponsored in part by the Department of Defense, the Reel Math Challenge is an innovative program involving teams of students using cutting-edge technology to create videos about math problems and their associated concepts. This new competition is meant to excite students about math while allowing them to hone their creativity and communication skills.

Social Studies

High School Fed Challenge Championship

The High School Fed Challenge Championship is a competition designed to bring real-world economics into the classroom. Teams play the role of monetary policymakers by analyzing current economic conditions and recommending a course for monetary policy.

Kaplun Foundation Essay Contest

The Morris J. and Betty Kaplun Foundation seeks to encourage young people to treasure our Jewish heritage, reflect on our Jewish values, and better understand our contribution to civilization and culture. To this effort, the Foundation sponsors an annual essay contest open to both junior high and high school students. Awards: $1,800.00 for 1st prize and $750.00 to each of the 5 finalists.

Slom Scholarship Fund For Freedom and Diversity

The Touro Synagogue Slom Scholarship Fund For Freedom and Diversity invites High School seniors to submit an interpretive work (i.e. written submission, audio visual or documentary film) focusing on the George Washington Letter in context with the present time. The fund will award up to two $500.00 scholarships. The presentation of the award takes place at the annual George Washington Letter Celebration.

Technology

US FIRST Robotics Competition

The FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge are an international high school robotics competition organized by FIRST. Each year, teams of high school students compete to build robots that can complete a task, which changes every year. Regional competitions lead to the Championship. Participants also qualify for various scholarships.

Scholarships

The New York Times College Scholarship Program

The New York Times College Scholarship Program is open to high school seniors in public, private or parochial schools in the five boroughs who have demonstrated superlative academic achievement despite significant obstacles – financial or otherwise. 8 Times Scholars are to be nominated for the scholarship program. Each will receive up to $7,500 per year, renewable annually.

Milton Fisher Scholarship for Innovation and Creativity

The Milton Fisher Scholarship for Innovation and Creativity rewards students that display innovation, creativity, and creative problem solving approaches. 3-5 awardees per year will receive $1,000 to $5,000 renewable for up to four years total. Students must go to college in NY or CT to be eligible for this scholarship, and must submit essay, two letters of recommendation, grades, and extracurricular activities information.

Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship

The Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship is a twice a year merit-based program. Winners are chosen by committee, which bases its decision primarily on the submitted personal statement. The first place award is a $1,000 scholarship. The award can be used for tuition, room and board, required fees or any educational expense.